Snakes in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has about 24 snake species, of which 14-15 of them occur rarely, enlisted as endangered, of special concern, or threatened. The reasons for depletion in their numbers include human intervention and habitat loss. The two venomous snakes present here in small numbers – timber rattlesnake and the eastern massasauga live in the southwestern part, with the latter being endangered and federally threatened

Of the non-venomous snakes, the smooth green snake, also known as the grass snake, is found throughout Wisconsin, dwelling along prairies, grasslands, and forest edges. Another harmless snake, the Butler’s garter snake, was enlisted as a protected species in 1997. However, with an increase in its population, proposals have come from several quarters to remove it from the endangered and threatened species list.

Groups	Venomous	Non-venomous
Rattlesnakes	Timber Rattlesnake Eastern Massasauga	–
Water Snakes	–	Common Watersnake
Kingsnakes	–	Milksnake Eastern Milksnake
Garter Snakes	–	Butler’s Garter Snake Common Garter Snake Plains Garter Snake Eastern Ribbon Snake Western Ribbon Snake
Hognose Snakes	–	Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Whip Snakes	–	Striped Whip Snake
Diadophis	–	Northern Ring-necked Snake Prairie Ring-necked Snake
Coluber	–	Eastern Racer
Carphophis	–	Western Worm Snake
Opheodrys	–	Smooth Greensnake
Pantherophis	–	Black Rat Snake Gray Rat Snake Eastern Fox Snake
Pituophis	–	Gopher Snake Pine Snake
Storeria	–	DeKay’s Brownsnake Redbelly Snake
Tropidoclonion	–	Lined Snake
Regina	–	Queen Snake